Advice on good small reef fish for open top
- Thread starter Dave71
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anything will jump if they want to. As far as small fish I've kept lyretail anthias, ignitus athias, midas blenny, lawnmower blenny, spotted hawkfish sixline wrasse and royal grammas with open top. None have ever jumped. Just about all known to commonly leap out of open tops. I keep my aquascaping and aggression low, flow high up top but your going to have to take some chances or put some sort of cover on (I refuse, too many benefits of open top).
fish that are extremely prone to jumping that I've avoided are jawfish, firefish/dartfish, sleeper goby's, flasher/fairy wrasses, peppermint and twinspot hogfish and chalk bass
fish that are extremely prone to jumping that I've avoided are jawfish, firefish/dartfish, sleeper goby's, flasher/fairy wrasses, peppermint and twinspot hogfish and chalk bass
I always like to recommend chalk bass. Great little fish unless you have very small shrimp. But really.. any fish can jump out if startled. Blenny's are great too but they aren't "small". More of a medium fish since they mostly reach 5" in adulthood. LM Blenny's get really big but are awesome and peaceful fish.
I have 55g, and so far, I have Lawnmower blenny, royal grama, and Marine Beta.
And you should have seen the grama Jump when the LFS was catching, It jumped right out of the tank about 5 or 6 " He landed in the tank and was then netted.
I thought gramas are dart fish too.. It's just keeping agression low, good water qulity, and give them lots of reasons to stay in the tank.
I thought my blenny was going to jump a few times, grabbing algae off the glass, but, he never has so far.
I saw some gorgeous Purple firefish at the LFS. I had never seen the purple ones in person, they were gorgeous. I had the same concerns -- Jumping, I'm not sure if they would jump "for the fun of it" or if they jump out of fear? I have PC lighting and can't afford to lose any light to covers.
And you should have seen the grama Jump when the LFS was catching, It jumped right out of the tank about 5 or 6 " He landed in the tank and was then netted.
I thought gramas are dart fish too.. It's just keeping agression low, good water qulity, and give them lots of reasons to stay in the tank.
I thought my blenny was going to jump a few times, grabbing algae off the glass, but, he never has so far.
I saw some gorgeous Purple firefish at the LFS. I had never seen the purple ones in person, they were gorgeous. I had the same concerns -- Jumping, I'm not sure if they would jump "for the fun of it" or if they jump out of fear? I have PC lighting and can't afford to lose any light to covers.
IFbettas
New member
I thought gramas are dart fish too.. It's just keeping agression low, good water qulity, and give them lots of reasons to stay in the tank.
Grammas are not dartfish, they are basslets.
To the OP's question: whatever fish you get, if you have an open top you will find one on the ground sooner or later. Most fish will jump when they feel threatened, and they can not escape. In a small tank like this, they can not escape from aggressors, which might lead them to jump.
d0ughb0y
Active member
Re: Advice on good small reef fish for open top
If you want hardy fish, get a pair of clowns, lawnmower or star blenny, 6 line wrasse, yellow tail damsel (some don't like this fish but I like mine). You can always get a bunch of bluegreen chromis and see how many will be left after a couple weeks. Fwiw, I got 8 chromis and the two largest ones are the ones left after a month. Some got sucked into the overflow, so pick the larger ones if you are going to get some chromis.
Good luck.
If you want hardy fish, get a pair of clowns, lawnmower or star blenny, 6 line wrasse, yellow tail damsel (some don't like this fish but I like mine). You can always get a bunch of bluegreen chromis and see how many will be left after a couple weeks. Fwiw, I got 8 chromis and the two largest ones are the ones left after a month. Some got sucked into the overflow, so pick the larger ones if you are going to get some chromis.
Good luck.
small alien
The fungus is among us.
make a top
I appreciate all of the input so far.
FWIW - I am aware that any fish can jump when stressed/chased, but I am also aware that some fish are known jumpers.
I am looking for fish that are not prone to jumping, with the understanding that any fish can jump, and appreciate those who have responded in kind.
FWIW - I am aware that any fish can jump when stressed/chased, but I am also aware that some fish are known jumpers.
I am looking for fish that are not prone to jumping, with the understanding that any fish can jump, and appreciate those who have responded in kind.
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